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Home » DIY & Crafts » Beautiful Solutions for Hiding Eyesores in Rentals

03/29/2017 · 7 Comments

Beautiful Solutions for Hiding Eyesores in Rentals

DIY & Crafts

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Greetings!  It’s so great to be with you today.  As a military spouse who frequently moves,  I’ve become very familiar with turning a temporary space into an enjoyable and functional home quickly.  There are so many similar eyesores renters face and I’m sharing creative solutions today for turning those uglies into something pretty!

Inconvenient placement of something odd.

It cracks me up when I see something like a phone (this one is actually the speaker to our doorbell and callbox) in the middle of a living room wall.  Two feet to the right it could be hidden by the kitchen wall.  Seriously.  Unfortunately, it is something that needs to stay. So if you can’t remove it, cover it!
ideas for decorating around rental obstacles

Since the object makes it impossible to hang something over it,  leaning art is the perfect solution.

ideas for decorating around rental obstacles

Exposed cable and electrical outlets.

Renters have to make their furniture work in many spaces with different furniture arrangements.  It’s a common problem to not be able to cover all the outlets for your media needs.  (It’s sure nice when it does work out!)  If you already have your media or tv stand set up in a room,  add smaller furniture as accent pieces.what to do about exposed outlets in a rental

Using a plant stand or garden seat as decor will cover those outlets and create more interest (it can also double as extra seating).  I find that these little stools are invaluable as a renter!furniture tips and placements for rentals

Unattractive wall AC/heater units.

With many things in a rental, sometimes we just have to embrace them.  But we can always try to draw the focus away from something unappealing.  This wall unit’s placement makes it hard to hang window treatments properly and is in a really inconvenient spot. how to decorate around ac heater wall units

If you run into a similar problem, instead of settling for too short curtains or uneven heights, hang something that blends in with the rest of the space. (If there are blinds that came with the rental, remove them and store under the bed or in a closet for safe keeping until you move out.) how to decorate around ac heater wall units

Outdated wall color or wallpaper.

I’m just in love with all the renter friendly products available today like removable wallpaper, washi tape, and decals. You don’t have to settle for ugly walls!   Even better, try something bold if you are a short term renter.   It’s a temporary space so chances are you won’t get tired of it.rental decorating ideas for hiding ugly eyesoresRemovable wallpaper in a bright botanical print distracts from all of the “uglies” in this small rental kitchen.   It’s actually charming now! cover ugly rental walls with renter friendly removable wallpaper

Exposed wires and cords in the laundry room. 

This has been a problem in every place we’ve lived and I’m sure many of you have run into this too!   An easy solution for renters is to cover the wires and cords with baskets.   Thread the cords and hoses through the handles (or cut  holes) and attach the baskets to the walls.  You can also attach “L” brackets to the sides of the baskets and hang with command strips for a no hole solution. hide cords and hoses in the laundry room with this easy DIYThe baskets can also double as shelves!hide cords and hoses in the laundry room with this easy DIYProtruding objects on the wall like fuse/electrical boxes and fire extinguishers.  

Am I the only one that has had to deal with fire extinguishers being hung in the middle of a wall? *giggle

There are so many great permanent solutions for these eyesore but for renters it can be more tricky.  The easiest DIY is  to display something in front of the boxes (even just a picture with washi tape!).  Add in a gallery wall around the eyesores and you won’t even notice they are there.  (Store the fire extinguisher somewhere else.)how to decorate around fuse boxes and other eyesores

Don’t overlook the dollar store for cute trays and baskets to add to your rental gallery wall! rental friendly ideas for covering eyesores

Less than appealing cabinetry and/or pulls.

I’m sure we’ve all had to deal with ugly kitchen or bathroom cabinets.  Sometimes a simple update to the pulls will do the trick.  You can also try covering your cabinets with removable wallpaper, contact paper, or even create a pattern (faux molding) with decorative tape. decorating tips for rental kitchens

Again, a perk of being a renter is getting to try something new and a little out of your comfort zone.  Don’t be afraid to have something unusual like floral kitchen cabinets! hide ugly kitchen cabinets with removable wallpaper

As you can see, with a little creativity and a few rental friendly decorating ideas,  you can turn those eyesores into something ascetically pleasing.

Don’t just settle in a rental, love your space!!

Tricks and examples of creative ways to decorate around eyesores when you can't remove them. Perfect for rentals!

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melissa

Melissa George

In 2013, Melissa founded Polished Habitat to share her passion for intersecting style and function to make everyday life more beautiful and less stressful. She does this by sharing easy home organization tips, home decor tutorials, and creative ideas to help readers think outside the box, no matter their budget. Her work has been featured in print in Better Homes & Gardens and Room to Create Magazine, and online by HGTV, House Beautiful, Buzzfeed, & more. In 2018 & 2019, Melissa was named as a Style Maker by Better Homes & Gardens. In 2019, Polished Habitat was shortlisted for the Amara Blog Awards Best Interior Styling Blog - International. Read more...

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Comments

  1. Sara says

    03/29/2017 at 6:53 am

    Love this… What GREAT ideas!!

    Reply
    • Melissa George says

      03/29/2017 at 9:17 am

      Agreed – Kathy is brilliant!

      Reply
  2. Tina Matteson says

    03/29/2017 at 8:57 am

    Wow, these are great! I think more than beautiful paint colors or amazing furniture, what we really need more of is real life solutions for these kinds of mundane decorating issues! Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful ideas. Also, Melissa, I really enjoy your blog!

    Reply
    • Melissa George says

      03/29/2017 at 9:26 am

      Thank you, Tina! I love sharing problem-solving posts like this too! While I love a fun room reveal, I know smaller projects and creative solutions are more practical for all of us.

      Reply
  3. Marty Oravetz says

    03/29/2017 at 9:42 am

    I am always impressed with your ability to tackle these spaces and totally transform them. You do have a vision that is stunning.

    Reply
  4. Lisa says

    03/29/2017 at 12:08 pm

    These are great tips! Not only for military families but those with obstacles that can’t afford to change right away too! Nice job! ??

    Reply
  5. Rachael @ This is our Bliss says

    03/31/2017 at 6:23 pm

    Kathy! You’re the rental decor goddess! I quite vividly recall all of those gorgeous spaces! I remember when you first hung those baskets on the wall in the laundry room…I thought, now THAT is so creative! Wonderful tips. Thanks for sharing with us all!! xo

    Reply

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Welcome!

In 2013, Melissa started Polished Habitat to share her skill of mixing decor & organization to add style & function to everyday life at home.

Her work has been featured in print in Better Homes & Gardens and Room to Create Magazine, and online by HGTV, House Beautiful, Buzzfeed, & more.

In 2018 &  2019, Melissa was named as a Style Maker by Better Homes & Gardens. In 2019, she was also short-listed by the Amara Blog Awards for Interior Styling, International Division.

Need to reach Melissa?
Email: Melissa @ PolishedHabitat.com

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